Maternity girdle



Patented Nov. 24, 1942 PATENT fifties MATERNITY GIRDLE I VIiela borion, Jamesville, N. Y. l f Application August 27, 1940,-Serial No. 354,413

` y (o1. 2-43 i 7 claims.

at the same time permitting controlled expansion u of the Sacrum during the final *stages of pregnancy; and which gives 'the Awearer a smooth and satisfactory appearance.` l

' Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following' description, taken Vin conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: V` y Figure 1 is an exterior View of agirdle according to my invention, l' shown inrcompletely open position. f Y

Figure 2 is atop plan view thereof. y

Referring more particularlyfto thev drawing, the girdle illustrated is constructed for-hookand-eye'fastening along the leftside of the wearer by means of the hooks I and eyes II,`contact of these with the wearer being prevented by the usual protective ap I2. As willi be `understood by thosefskilled in this art, other modes and locations of fastening could be employed if desired'.- Starting fromthe -left ofFigure l, the principal divisions ofthe corset are left side section I4, left back section I5, right back section I6, right side section I1, and front sections I8, I9 and 20.

The side sections I4 and I1 are preferably made of elastic material having its principal stretch in the direction of the lines ruled thereon in Figure 1, and hence cut on the bias with respect to the girdle as a whole. These bias elastic side sections contribute to the upward support or'lift furnished by the front sections to be presently described, and likewise distribute the abdominal load over the sides and toward the back of the wearer, while keeping the patients hips smooth and dressy in appearance. The side sections I4 and I1 may be joined to the adjacent back sections I5 and I6, respectively, by stitching as illustrated. 'Ihe'si'de section I1 may be stitched to the front section I8, and the side section'l4,'in the garment as worn, is joined to The back sections I5 and I6 preferably are made of non-elastic fabric and are fairly heavily boned or stayed, each back section in the embodiment illustrated being provided with four stays located in pockets formed by stitchingA in the usual manner. VThe back sections are joined together by lacing 26 and also by an elastic panel 21. 'I'he elastic panel 21 has its stretch circumferentially'of the wearer, and may be joined to the inside of vthe back sections I5 and I6 by the same stitching that forms the outer pockets 25. rAs shown in Figure 2, the elastic panel 21 is of such circumferential dimension as to liesubstantially flat against the 5 inside of the girdle when the back sections I5 and I6 are closely laced together, and preferably is under no tension when theV back sections are in*A this position'. If ttedfto the patient during the early stages of pregnancy, the girdle should be of suchsiZe-as 'tolit snuglywhen the back sections are closely laced, thereby permitting later expansion of the back by releasing the lacing l26 to adjust to the development of the patient. Such release ofthe lacing 25 will then place the elastic panel 21f under tension, 'providing -additional support to the patients back and facilitating a gradual'and controlled expansion of the back of the girdle. It will b'e observed that the size of the; back Aof the girdle, that is the front section 20 by the hooks I0 and eyes II. 55

to say, the spacing "of the back .sections I5 and I6, 'is' definitely limited Yand controlled by the lacing .26, the elastic-panel 21 serving to provide additional` tension and support in the neighborhood of the spinal column as the lacing 26 is let out to accommodate the spreading of the Sacrum commencing with about the seventh month `of pregnancy. Increased back support is therefore .furnished just at the most necessary time. The elastic panel 21 also serves to protect the wearer from discomfort that might otherwise be caused by the lacing 26 pressing on the backbone.

The front sections I8 and 2o are joined to the central front section I9 by lacings 30 and 3|, respectively. Cloth flaps 32 and 33 are provided to protect the wearer from these lacings, and may be sewn to Athe sections I8 and 20, respectively. The front sections I8 and 20 and the adjacent edges of the section I9 are preferably made of non-elastic material. The main part of the central front section I9, however, is made of an elastic panel 34 backed by a loose non-elastic fabric panel 35, as best shown in Figure 2. The

fabric panel 35 serves to limit the stretch of the elastic panel 34 and thus prevents an excessive stretching of the latter and limits the pressure which may be thus exerted on the patients abdomen. The abdominal growth of the patient from about the fth month of pregnancy on, is intended to be taken care of by letting out the front lacings 30 and 3| just enough to keep the patient comfortable While maintaining abdominal support by having the elastic panel 34 under tension. The preferred direction of principal stretch of the panel 34 is circumferentially of the wearer as indicated by the rulings thereon in Figure 1. A dart 36 may be formed in the panel 34 to improve the fit at the lower portion of the abdomen. By proper regulation of the lacings 30 and 3|, the tension of the elastic front panel 34 may be increased towards the end of the gestation period, so as to give/maximum abdominal support during the last weeks when most needed. The described construction of the three front sections also permits adjustment of the girdle on the patients body to follow the evolution of growth of the fetus in each of the three usual positions, high, medium and low, thus giving proper support at each stage of development.

By intelligent fitting and adjustment of the girdle of my invention, it is possible to assure a natural position of the fetus throughout the entire period of gestation, with effective and ample support at all times, particuarly during the difficult iinal stages, thus enhancing the probability of a safe and normal delivery. If the garment is fitted during the early stages of pregnancy, it is likewise possible to use the same garment for the first five or six weeks after delivery. l

While I have described and illustrated my invention in connection with a girdle, it'Will be apparent that the same principles are applicable to a corset, and I desire the term girdle as used in the appended claims, therefore, to include either a girdle strictly so called or a corset. Other changes may suggest themselves to those skilled in this art Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and lI desire to be limited, therefore,V only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims. v

I claim: Y j

l. A maternity girdle lcomprising two back sections joined together by lacing and by an elastic panel, said elastic panel being extensible circumferentially of the girdle andjbeing of such circumferential dimension as normally to holdthe laced meeting edges of said back sections adjacent one another, side sections joined to said respective back sections, right and left front sections joined t the respective side sections,

and a central front section joined by lacings to said right and left front sections and comprising an elastic panel extensible circumferentially of the girdle and adapted to extend over the wearers abdomen.

2. A maternity girdle as claimed in claim 1 in which the said back lacing extends substantially the full length of the girdle.

3. A maternity girdle as claimed in claim 1 in which the said side panels are elastic and are extensible in a direction biased to the circumference of the girdle and upward from the back toward the front.

4. A maternity girdle as claimed in claim 1 in which a non-elastic panel is secured lto said front section elastic panel and is adapted to limit the stretch thereof.

5. A maternity girdle comprising two back sections joined together by lacing and by an elastic panel, said elastic panel being extensible circumferentially of the girdle and being of such circumferential dimension as normally to hold thelaced meeting edges of said back sections adjacent one another, elastic side sections joined to said respective back sections and extensible in a direction biased to the circumference of the girdle and upward from the back to the front, and a front section comprising an elastic panel extensible circumferentially of the girdle and lacings at each side of said elastic panel, said front section elastic panel being adapted to extend over the wearers abdomen.

6. A maternity girdle as claimed in claim 5 in which a non-elastic panel is secured to said front section elastic panel and is adapted to limit the stretch thereof. l

7. A maternity girdle comprising two back sections joined together bylacing extending substantially the ful1 length' of the girdle and by an elastic panel, said elastic panel being extensible circumferentially of the girdle vand being of such circumferential dimension as normally to hold the laced meeting edges of said back sections adjacent one another, elastic side sections joined to said respective back sections and extensible in a direction biased to the circumference of the girdle and upward from the back to the front, right andv left front sections joined to the respective side sections, anda central front section joined by lacings to said right and left front sections and comprising an elastic panel extensible circumferentially of the girdle and a non-elastic panel secured to -said elastic panel and adapted to limit the stretch thereof, and said front section elastic panel being'adapted to extend over the Wearers abdomen.

LEILA C. DORION, 

